Understanding the risks in your industry and how our comprehensive coverage responds to protect your business.
The Risks
Risks Response
Damage to Client Property
Tools, equipment or work activities may accidentally damage client property such as walls, floors, fixtures or existing structures.
Public liability cover may help with legal costs and compensation if you by mistake damage a client's walls, floors or fixtures on site.
Injury to Third Parties
Accidents on job sites may result in injury to clients, visitors or passersby. Public liability insurance may help respond to compensation claims and legal costs.
Public liability cover may help pay compensation and legal defence costs if a client, visitor or passer-by is injured at your work site and makes a claim.
Damage to Property in Your Control
Client property or equipment temporarily in your care during work may be accidentally damaged, leading to claims for repair or replacement costs.
Public liability insurance may help with defence cost and compensation if client property in your care is damaged and you are held liable.
Damage During Loading or Unloading
Property may be damaged while loading or unloading tools and materials from vehicles, potentially resulting in third party claims.
Public liability insurance may help with legal costs and compensation if loading/unloading damages property and you are liable.
Loss or Theft of Tools and Equipment
Tools may be stolen from vehicles, job sites or storage areas, or damaged by fire, flood or vehicle accidents during transport to work.
Tools and equipment insurance may help replace stolen tools after break-ins, and repair or replace gear damaged by fire, flood or crashes.
upcover is trusted by business owners and insurers alike
A support worker gave a participant the wrong medication due to a mislabeled pillbox. The participant experienced severe drowsiness and dehydration, requiring overnight hospitalization.
WHY IT’S COVERED
Costs included $8,200 for hospital and rehabilitation, $12,500 for legal defence, and a $7,500 settlement to resolve the claim out of court.
Product Reaction
SCENARIO
A support worker gave a participant the wrong medication due to a mislabeled pillbox. The participant experienced severe drowsiness and dehydration, requiring overnight hospitalization.
WHY IT’S COVERED
Costs included $8,200 for hospital and rehabilitation, $12,500 for legal defence, and a $7,500 settlement to resolve the claim out of court.
SCENARIO
A support worker gave a participant the wrong medication due to a mislabeled pillbox. The participant experienced severe drowsiness and dehydration, requiring overnight hospitalization.
WHY IT’S COVERED
Costs included $8,200 for hospital and rehabilitation, $12,500 for legal defence, and a $7,500 settlement to resolve the claim out of court.
SCENARIO
A tradie's vehicle is broken into overnight while parked at home. Thieves force entry through the locked canopy, stealing power tools and equipment valued at several thousand dollars.
WHY IT’S COVERED
Tools of trade insurance can cover theft from a securely locked vehicle where there is evidence of forced entry, helping you replace essential equipment.
Tool Theft
SCENARIO
A tool falls from scaffolding and injures a pedestrian walking past the worksite. They require medical treatment and later make a claim against the business for pain, suffering and related expenses.
WHY IT’S COVERED
Public liability insurance is designed to respond to claims for personal injury to third parties arising from your business activities.
Public Injury
SCENARIO
You offer to store your client's valuable items and furniture while you provide renovation services to their home. While the items were stored in your secure workshop, they were accidentally damaged by water from a burst pipe, requiring repairs and replacement of some items.
WHY IT’S COVERED
Public Liability policies may include cover for damage to property temporarily in your care, custody, or control, subject to sub-limits and exclusions.
Property in Your Care
SCENARIO
A tradesperson installing a wall fixture accidentally drills into a concealed pipe behind the wall, causing water damage to the client's flooring and cabinetry. The client requires repairs and later makes a claim against the business for repair costs and related expenses.
WHY IT’S COVERED
Public liability insurance is designed to cover claims for accidental damage to third-party property due to your business activities and operations.
Client Property Damage
Important: Scenarios are examples only. Coverage is subject to policy terms, conditions and exclusions. Policy wordings vary between insurers. Refer to the PDS or Policy Wording for details.
Benefits
Why Businesses trust upcover
Get quotes in minutes, adjust your cover as your business evolves, and lean on expert support to help you make confident insurance decisions.
Trades and construction insurance is designed to protect tradies and builders from risks they face in their daily work, typically including public liability cover and optional covers like tools of trade and tax audit protection.
Trades and construction insurance is designed to protect tradies and builders from risks they face in their daily work, typically including public liability cover and optional covers like tools of trade and tax audit protection.
How much does trades and construction insurance cost?
The cost varies depending on your specific trade, business location, number of employees, annual turnover, level of cover, claims history, sum insured for tools of trade, and excess amount. It's best to get a personalised quote based on your specific circumstances.
How much does trades and construction insurance cost?
The cost varies depending on your specific trade, business location, number of employees, annual turnover, level of cover, claims history, sum insured for tools of trade, and excess amount. It's best to get a personalised quote based on your specific circumstances.
Because one accident can become an expensive claim. Public Liability insurance covers amounts you become legally liable to pay as compensation for third-party injury or property damage caused by your business activities, including legal costs to defend or settle claims.
Because one accident can become an expensive claim. Public Liability insurance covers amounts you become legally liable to pay as compensation for third-party injury or property damage caused by your business activities, including legal costs to defend or settle claims.
What does public liability insurance cover for tradies?
Public liability insurance may cover claims for injury to third parties or damage to their property that occurs during your business activities, including accidents on job sites and legal defence costs.
What does public liability insurance cover for tradies?
Public liability insurance may cover claims for injury to third parties or damage to their property that occurs during your business activities, including accidents on job sites and legal defence costs.
Common exclusions include faulty workmanship, defects in your work, wear and tear, maintenance costs, fines and penalties, pollution, asbestos, cyber incidents, intentional damage, registered vehicles, professional advice, and work done on watercraft or aircraft.
Common exclusions include faulty workmanship, defects in your work, wear and tear, maintenance costs, fines and penalties, pollution, asbestos, cyber incidents, intentional damage, registered vehicles, professional advice, and work done on watercraft or aircraft.
Not always by law, but it is often expected in practice. Many builders, principal contractors, councils and commercial clients require it before you can start on site. Some trades have specific legal or licensing requirements.
Not always by law, but it is often expected in practice. Many builders, principal contractors, councils and commercial clients require it before you can start on site. Some trades have specific legal or licensing requirements.
How do I get public liability insurance for tradies?
You can buy it through Upcover. Click Get Instant Quote, enter your occupation and revenue for an instant quote, then add a few more details about your business to get the final quote and purchase your cover.
How do I get public liability insurance for tradies?
You can buy it through Upcover. Click Get Instant Quote, enter your occupation and revenue for an instant quote, then add a few more details about your business to get the final quote and purchase your cover.
Are my tools covered if they're stolen from my vehicle?
If you have tools of trade cover, theft from your vehicle may be covered, subject to policy terms requiring evidence of forced entry to a securely locked vehicle. Tools stolen from unlocked vehicles or left in the open air are not covered.
Are my tools covered if they're stolen from my vehicle?
If you have tools of trade cover, theft from your vehicle may be covered, subject to policy terms requiring evidence of forced entry to a securely locked vehicle. Tools stolen from unlocked vehicles or left in the open air are not covered.
Does the insurance cover damage to property I'm working on?
The policy may cover accidental damage to property in your physical or legal control up to $250,000 in aggregate. However, it doesn't cover damage to property you're specifically working on where the damage arises solely from your work.
Does the insurance cover damage to property I'm working on?
The policy may cover accidental damage to property in your physical or legal control up to $250,000 in aggregate. However, it doesn't cover damage to property you're specifically working on where the damage arises solely from your work.
Am I covered if I accidentally damage a client's property while working?
Public Liability insurance may cover accidental damage to third-party property, including your client's property, arising from your business activities. Cover is subject to policy limits and exclusions.
Am I covered if I accidentally damage a client's property while working?
Public Liability insurance may cover accidental damage to third-party property, including your client's property, arising from your business activities. Cover is subject to policy limits and exclusions.
What's the difference between specified and unspecified tools?
Specified items are individual tools listed on your policy with their specific value. Unspecified items are tools not individually listed, covered up to $1,000 per item and $5,000 per claim in total. Any tool worth more than $1,000 should be listed as a specified item.
What's the difference between specified and unspecified tools?
Specified items are individual tools listed on your policy with their specific value. Unspecified items are tools not individually listed, covered up to $1,000 per item and $5,000 per claim in total. Any tool worth more than $1,000 should be listed as a specified item.
Does the policy cover tools damaged in a vehicle accident?
Yes, tools of trade cover may respond to damage caused by collision or overturning of a motor vehicle carrying your tools during the period of insurance.
Does the policy cover tools damaged in a vehicle accident?
Yes, tools of trade cover may respond to damage caused by collision or overturning of a motor vehicle carrying your tools during the period of insurance.
Generally, subcontractors are not covered under your policy as they're not your employees. The policy specifically excludes injury to contractors or subcontractors working for or on your behalf, except in specific circumstances. Subcontractors typically need their own insurance coverage.
Generally, subcontractors are not covered under your policy as they're not your employees. The policy specifically excludes injury to contractors or subcontractors working for or on your behalf, except in specific circumstances. Subcontractors typically need their own insurance coverage.
You should notify us as soon as possible after becoming aware of an incident that may result in a claim. You can lodge a claim online at https://www.upcover.com/forms/claims.
You should notify us as soon as possible after becoming aware of an incident that may result in a claim. You can lodge a claim online at https://www.upcover.com/forms/claims.
Does the policy cover work-related injuries to my employees?
No, trades and construction insurance typically doesn't cover workers compensation for your employees. You need a separate workers compensation insurance policy as required by law in your state or territory.
Does the policy cover work-related injuries to my employees?
No, trades and construction insurance typically doesn't cover workers compensation for your employees. You need a separate workers compensation insurance policy as required by law in your state or territory.
To help you better understand what public liability insurance covers, we’ll provide three examples of situations in which public liability insurance can protect your business.
Neglecting to have public liability insurance can not only bankrupt your small business but also open the door to your personal assets being up for grabs.
We’re on a mission to become a top-5 insurance distributor within the next decade, challenging legacy incumbents by providing a unique opportunity for forward-thinking agents.
The information contained on this website is general advice only and has been prepared without taking into account your individual needs, objectives and financial situation. It should not be relied upon as advice. All insurance products are subject to the terms, conditions, limits and exclusions contained in the relevant policy wording and Product Disclosure Statement. Before deciding whether a particular insurance product is right for you, please consider your personal circumstances and read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement, Target Market Determination, Policy Wording, and Financial Services Guide.
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